To rotate or not to rotate
On a recent trip to Brazil while on the dance floor at a regular afternoon event an elderly local gentleman politely suggested that I should move around the dance floor. At the time I had to ponder a little as I was enjoying one of the few good salsa tracks that are very scarce in that neck of the woods.
Salsa that rotates around a dance floor like some ballroom dances do could take a bit of getting used to. In most clubs, bars and salsa venues in the world it does not: it is commonly known as a “slot dance”, where the couple pretty much dances on the spot.
Yes, some dances styles do lend themselves to rotation. A few that would fit into this category are Gafieira Samba, Tango (both Ballroom and Argentinean), Fox Trot, Bolero and Waltz. Dance styles that generally do not rotate are Salsa (both Cuban and Linear styles) Zouk, Merengue, Bachata and Samba no pe. So why do some styles move when others don’t?
As part of their vocabulary, rotating dance styles have a movement idea that encourages the dancers to move around the room - it is called ‘promenade’ or ‘caminhada’, which mean ‘stroll/walk’. This movement idea develops at the same time as, and along with, the dance style. The evolution of a style is effected by
- cultural factors;
- where it is mostly danced: crowed bars or spacious ballroom;
- the flavour of the dance itself; and
- whether the rotating elements link together.
It is certainly a site to behold when the entire dance floor is moving and “breathing” together, especially when it ebbs and flows along with the music. On the other hand a couple whose leader is set on getting around the room despite the rest of the people dancing in “slots” can look a bit like a ball in a pinball machine on speed.
Even though Salsa for 99% of the world does not rotate, on that particular day I did the right thing and moved to the inside so that the couple that wanted to rotate could play on through. So I guess the moral of the story is to appreciate dance etiquette and understand why dance styles do or do not rotate; but if all the couples on the dance floor are moving, then go with flow - don’t be a Wally and back-peddle upstream!
~Ian
From the Dance Floor
| Natalie I began dancing with SLG in January 2007. With a vast background of other dance styles, it’s a part of me and I will always love it. It is so free-spirited; it helps you relax and have fun - all to beautiful music! When I am not dancing I visit friends, socialize, exercise and listen to music. The thing I make best is Mum’s brownie recipe called “Chinese Chews Secret recipe”. I dance with SLG because the instructors are fantastic! There is always progression in the classes and party nights to have a good time at and practice all that you have learnt. You meet a great mix of people who enjoy dancing as well, so you always get motivation and support when you need it. I recommend SLG to everyone! |
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| Andrew I started dancing because I wanted to find a new hobby that was fun, interesting and challenging. Dancing makes me feel alive. When I am not dancing I fill the void by working tirelessly as a student of law a teacher of political science and international relations. Boring I know. At the moment I am listening to the Smooth Latin Groove CD. You can get it for $10 or the special price of 2 for $20. Just ask Desley at the counter. Please mention my name. The thing I make best is an awesome ice-cream sandwich. Get two slices of bread and a few spoonfuls of ice-cream and you are all set. If money was no object I would travel the world on an international culinary experience and then buy an island and build my own exotic theme park. I dance with SLG because the instructors are friendly and helpful and create a comfortable atmosphere where you can have a laugh at yourself and others. |
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SLG Open House - “Come and Try” especially for beginners!
Come and try a Free Latin Dance class with no obligations!
- by yourself or with a partner
- no dance experience necessary
Discover how easy it is to get started!
Wednesday 22nd August 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Booking Essential - class numbers are limited!
Doctor Groove
Q: I have danced before. Can I accelerate my progression?
A: It is important to have covered the material before being able to advance in class level. This can be done by one or more private sessions to catch you up. During the private session we will make sure that you do not miss anything and can comfortably enter your course without disadvantaging those already in the class.
At SLG there is also recognition of prior learning and experience. Some caution here: six months of doing Lambada 123s up and down the room does not equal six months of Zouk dancing. Doctor Groove recommends that you speak to your SLG instructor.
* Advancing in a Class Level is subject to class ratios and space available
Q: Is it important to still do lots of turns even though she is not quite keeping up?
A: Well no, the most important thing is that she has fun and will want to dance with you again. When taking a partner on the floor to dance, take some time to build the dance conversation. Start out easy at first and then, after feeling out whether you and your partner are connecting well, gradually move up the level of patterns.
You may never move beyond beginner moves. If the dance movement remains simple it is not the end of your enjoyment. Take the time to listen to music, to pick out the highlights and changes in flavour. Take this opportunity to perfect your timing and lead. Enjoy the moment! If she is unable to follow you that is your fault. Never stop and instruct your partner in what you may perceive she is doing wrong. Remember when you make her look & feel good, in return you will look good too!
Online shop now Open
The SLG website online shop is now up and running! You can purchase SLG items from the comfort of your own home - dance shoes, Latin Rhythms CDs, T-shirts, and gift vouchers.
Check it out here
Smooth Latin Fitness – New Class
This is a low impact class full of energy and Latin dance. We will focus on Merengue, Salsa, Zouk, Samba and Cha Cha Cha movements. The class consists of continuous dance fun, adding up to around 30 minutes of low level cardiovascular activity – great for burning body fat! Each session includes warm-up and cool-down periods. Through repetition you will develop a strong connection to the dance rhythms we teach.
No need for a partner – just come along and have a fun workout, burn those calories and feel great!
The class program is designed by Ian who is an accredited Personal Trainer, Gym & Group Fitness Instructor. This class will be is super safe and very effective – keep fit and lose weight without the pain!
Time: 5:45pm - 40 minute class - Check out the Timetable for details!
“Dancing is just organized walking” (Helen Gramotnev)
Imaginary Practice / Practice in your Head
by James Quinn-Hawtin
During my first few courses at Smooth Latin Groove I received compliments from some of my dance partners who commented, 'You must have been practicing a lot this past week!' It's a great feeling to receive that kind of positive feedback and to look over at Ian and receive his 'You're doing well' grin.
I'm going to let you in on a little secret of mine: I didn't do all that much practice. Well, not that much physical practice. Vanessa and I would typically have an impromptu five-minute practice in the kitchen most evenings but the real practice happened in bed.
No, I'm not talking about that... Focus!
In Psycho - Cybernetics Dr Maxwell Maltz writes, 'Experimental and clinical psychologists have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the human nervous system cannot tell the difference between an "actual" experience and an experience imagined vividly and in detail.' In the same book he shares an account of an experiment on the effects of mental practice on improving basketball free throws.
The experiment divided the subjects into three groups. Group one physically practiced free throws for twenty days. Group two did no practice at all. Group three spent twenty minutes per day visualising shooting free throws. When the subjects in the third group 'missed', they would visualise correcting their aim accordingly. The results were incredible: the first group improved their free throw score by 24%; the second group showed no improvement; and the third group improved their scores by 23%. Amazingly, mental practice yielded results almost identical to physical practice.
What this means for us is that visualisation can be an extremely effective tool in practicing dance moves and this is fantastic news for the many of us who don't have a lot of time or space or a practice partner. Here's how:
Most nights during my foundation courses at Smooth Latin Groove I spent time laying awake in bed imagining that I was dancing. I would visualise the steps, imagine the muscle contractions and even 'experience' the forces of motion and contra-motion. I'd even stuff up... sometimes dozens of times before getting it right. I'd lose balance or put my foot in the wrong place... or my hand (usually resulting in an imaginary slap...). This allowed me to reinforce what I'd learned the past week and to solidify the fundamentals.
So go get practicing! As you lay awake in bed, close your eyes and start with the Zouk mantra, "Slow, quick, quick, slow..." and then imagine dancing. Start with basic stepping and then go over what you can remember learning during the past two classes. Once you've got that under control you can put on the Smooth Latin Groove Practice CD and start choreographing a dance to your favourite song. Don't worry if you can't visualise clear, vivid pictures - some people, like me, only get impressions - you'll get results either way and you'll also get better with practice.
I look forward to seeing you on the imaginary dance floor soon!
Rueda: Get into Salsa Rueda, SLG Style
Rueda simply means” wheel”. Salsa Rueda is a group dance originating in Cuba. The Rueda can be as small as two couples, or as large as a space can hold. The couples dance in a circle executing moves called out by a leader. You will learn many easy, playful calls, such as "adios", "enchufla", or "dame". The leaders, usually the men, initiate the execution of the moves. The followers, usually the ladies, perform the moves as guided by the leaders. Salsa Rueda is like a game during which the couples continuously change partners, moving along the circle and dancing with everyone in the group. Rueda is danced to lively, up-beat salsa music, with dancers constantly moving along the circle to their next partner, it is a seriously fun spectacle and experience!
Special Discount for experienced Rueda enthusiasts who attend! Check out the Timetable for details!
New Course in Carnival Samba
Carnival Samba is an exhilarating Brazilian solo dance style best known from the annual Rio Carnival, the biggest party in Rio de Janeiro! Parades of dancers in elaborate costumes, thousands of people cheering and singing to music, and drums beating vigorous rhythms of Batucada all night long - its energy is contagious!
Samba dance style is characterised by fast footwork executed to Brazilian percussion instruments, with an added fluid hip movement for ladies. You don't need a partner to dance Samba - you will be dancing with everyone in the group, having fun and getting fit! Carnival Samba has a very cheeky, social feel to it, and it can be danced by absolutely everyone.
Carnival Samba is a new world, full of colour, energy and fresh excitement - celebrate life the way Brazilians do!
No partner or experience required
* Everyone Welcome!
Have fun, get fit and experience the new world of Brazilian Carnival! Check out the Timetable for details!
Body Movement Course with Vanessa
What is it? The new Smooth Latin Groove course with Vanessa Van der Werff is called Body Movement. If you have ever wondered why some people look different than others when executing the same moves, here is your answer! Body Movement is essentially a dance conditioning class that strengthens and helps protect people’s bodies, while allowing a fluid projection of movements to be expressed freely with the body. It is not a course in which you learn certain moves so that you can dance them next time you’re at a party. Rather the syllabus entails body isolation, turning exercises, and stretching, along with preparing the body for cambre’s (dips). This syllabus will help increase not only the fluidity of movement, but also the flow of creativity that puts individual flare and enjoyment to your dancing - whichever Latin dance style you love the most!
A bit about the Instructor: Vanessa has been dancing throughout her life. She started her classical ballet training when she was five, along with tap, contemporary and jazz. Among the dances she has studied are the Polynesian styles, Aboriginal, Indonesian, Indian and Persian dancing. She continues dancing in Brisbane focussing in Funk, Hip Hop, and Latin dancing. Vanessa’s achievements include dancing with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, at the Opening Ceremony of Good Will Games, just to name a few.
Vanessa, with the help of Smooth Latin Groove, has come up with a syllabus that will help in every aspect of dance, expression, strength, joy and vitality. “I believe this course will help put all the pieces of the puzzle of dance together so that dance becomes an enjoyable intuitive creative experience, which extends on to the people you’re dancing with.”
Check out the Timetable for details!
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Tango Join Chantal and Ian to learn Argentine Tango A dance of connection, depth passion and sensuality. No prerequisite is required to begin Tango classes. Tango can look complicated but SLG provide a teaching structure to simplify the learning process. Tango is a social dance originating in the West Indies and which found its way to Argentina where it was stylized by the Gauchos to its present form. Early tango was known as Tango Criollo, or simply Tango. The Argentine tango is often regarded as the "authentic" tango since it is closest to that originally danced in Argentina and Uruguay. Today Tango is a stylish improvisational dance that appeals to all ages. Check out the Timetable for details! |
Courses starting from 27th August
Bookings Essential!
New Look Tune Up Sessions
Each Tune Up Dance Session consists of one hour of workshops in both Beginners and Intermediate levels, followed by three hours of social practice time. Every fortnight a new dance style will be focused on during the workshop. While workshops will vary from session to session, each session includes social dance time in Salsa, Zouk and Gafieira Samba, Merengue, Cha Cha Cha and Bachata.
Workshops are now split into two levels
Beginners (Studio One)
Intermediate+ (Studio Two)
Workshops from 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Social Dancing from 8:00pm to 11:00pm
Only $5 for SLG students and $10 for guests
Use these sessions to ask questions, catch up with your class mates for a dance, and meet new friends. If you need assistance – your teachers are there to help. Come along, get dancing, learn something new, and have fun!
Everyone is welcome!
| What’s On? 18th August SLG Dance Party 22nd August Open House 24th August: Tune Up Session ( Argentinean Tango) 7th September Tune Up Session ( Cha Cha Shines) 15th September SLG Dance Party 21st September Tune Up Session ( Merengue) 5th October: Tune Up Session ( Zouk Shines) 13th October SLG Dance Party 19th October: Tune Up Session ( Bolero) |
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Office Hours - During term break
Monday 20th August to Friday 24th August: 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Saturday 25th August: 12:00noon to 5:00pm
First Floor,